The Miguel Ibarra file
Vitals: Ibarra, top left, was born March 15, 1990 and raised in Lancaster, Calif.
Headband athlete: Played basketball through his freshman year of high school. Played college soccer at Taft and University of California, Irvine. Wore a headband in high school and Taft colors, primarily for style
MLS to Minnesota: Drafted by Portland of MLS in 2012, cut late in camp and considered pursuing his masters in sociology. Former Minnesota player and coach Amos Magee encouraged Ibarra to head north in pursuit of a soccer career.
United highlights: Played in all 30 games as a rookie in 2012, scoring five goals and adding five assists as Minnesota reached the finals. Named to the North American Soccer League Best XI team in 2013. Scored nine goals, added nine assists and was named NASL most valuable player in 2014
National stuff: Called up to the U.S. national team, making his debut on Oct. 14, 2014, against Honduras.
Did you know? UCI coach George Kuntz keeps about a dozen text messages he sent to Major League Soccer coaches imploring them to draft Ibarra, a reminder of all those who passed.
DAVID LA VAQUE
